Leon Haslam knows that he needs double top in the Spring Bank Holiday Monday fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at his local Donington Park circuit to put his title bid firmly back on track.
The HM Plant Honda responded to the challenge with a hard working performance across free practice, putting in a late fast lap to head the leaderboard, though by only 0.073 secs from his team-mate Cal Crutchlow.
Haslam has good memories of the Leicestershire grand prix circuit, having taken a winning double there last year, and he is aiming for an action replay to ease the disappointment of a difficult start to the current campaign which leaves him back in sixth place in the standings.
“It's obviously time to put my recent disappointments behind me and this is the place to do it,” reflected the 24 year old who is expecting a tough time against the Ducatis. “They have dominated in the past – I took the double there last year with them – but I know that my new Fireblade goes well around here.
“Going top in the practice was just what I needed and I know that there is more to come – we just have to keep working at it and ensure that the results come,” added a confident Haslam.
Crutchlow, second in the standings, though 44 points down on series leading Shane Byrne, is recovering well from the ankle injuries sustained in a crash at Oulton Park and looking both strong and comfortable, with his lap of 1m 32.225secs, piling the pressure on Haslam.
Karl Harris, returning from the foot injuries that kept him out of the Brands Hatch action, was well on the pace throughout, with his lap of 1m 32.256secs underlining his determination to power the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha to a first podium finish of the season.
The rider they all need to watch however remains Byrne – the former champion was little more than a quarter of a second down on Haslam and that despite a tumble early on in the afternoon session from his Airwaves Ducati.
Tom Sykes showed well aboard the Rizla Suzuki, lapping in 1m 32.854secs, to be ahead of Michael Rutter on the North West 200 Ducati and Leon Camier aboard the second Airwaves bike in a second session punctuated by two red-flags, an oil spill and five non-injury tumbles.
Billy McConnell, ran eighth best for MSS Discover Kawasaki, with Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison sandwiched between the Aussie and his team-mate Stuart Easton.
Chris Burns, riding the STP MV Agusta, headed the times for the Daily Star Cup with a best lap of 1m 34.827secs, ahead of Luke Quigley on the PDM Suzuki and Gary Mason, making his seasonal debut into the series on the Quay Garage Honda.
John Laverty, the leader in the Cup points, ran fourth on the Buildbase NW200 Ducati.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, free practice, top ten times:
1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 1m:32.152s
2. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +0.073s
3. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +0.104s
4. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.267s
5. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.566s
6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +0.825s
7. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +0.949s
8. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +1.355s
9. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +1.418s
10. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +1.557s
Superbikes on Track:
Sunday 25th May10.25-11.15 free practice
14.10-15.00 Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole grid deciding session
Monday 26th May09.15-09.30 Warm-up practice
13.00 Race one – 20 laps
15.30 Race two – 20 laps
